Bachelor’s Degree Requirements - Approved 12/17/2024

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To graduate from CSUN, students must complete all of the following:

1. General Education requirements.
2. American Institutions requirements.
3. Lifelong Learning requirement.
4. Major requirements.
5. Writing Skills requirements.

American Institutions Requirement

The purpose of the American Institutions requirement is to ensure that students acquire knowledge and skills that will help them to comprehend the workings of American democracy and of the society in which they live to enable them to contribute to that society as responsible and constructive citizens. The University provides for comprehensive study of American history and American government including the historical development of American institutions and ideals, the Constitution of the United States and the operation of representative democratic government under that Constitution, and the processes of state and local government.

The University requires all students to complete one 3-unit course in American History, Institutions and Ideals and one 3-unit course in Constitution of the United States and California State and Local Government.

Students may meet this requirement by:

a. Completing one course in American History, Institutions and Ideals from AFRS 271, AFRS 272, AIS 250, CHS 245, ECON 175, HIST 270, HIST 271, HIST 370, HIST 371, JOUR 391, PHIL 317, RS 256 at CSUN or an equivalent course at an accredited community or four-year college; or receiving a satisfactory score on the AP Examination in U.S. History or the CLEP Examination in History, United States I or the CLEP Examination in History, United States II or the IB Examination in History of Americas HL.

b. Completing one course in Constitution of the United States and State and Local Government from AAS 347, AFRS 161, CHS 260, CHS 445, POLS 155, POLS 355, RS 255 at CSUN or an equivalent course at an accredited community or four-year college; or receiving a satisfactory score on the AP Examination in Government and Politics: United States or the CLEP Examination in American Government. Students with AP or CLEP credit or transfer coursework that does not cover California State and Local Government will also need to complete POLS 490CA.

Completion of the Constitution of the United States and California State and Local Government requirement fulfills a portion of the General Education Program.

American Institutions courses designated as Information Competence (IC) or Writing Intensive (WI) may also satisfy those requirements.

American Institutions courses must meet all of the following Title 5 requirements as prescribed by California law.

Student Learning Outcomes

American History, Institutions and Ideals

Students will:

1. Describe and analyze significant events covering a minimum time span of approximately one hundred years and occurring in the entire area now included in the United States of America, including the relationships of regions within that area and with external regions and powers as appropriate to the understanding of those events within the United States during the period under study.
2. Describe and analyze the role of major ethnic and social groups in such events and the contexts in which the events have occurred.
3. Describe and analyze events presented within a framework that illustrates the continuity of the American experience and its derivation from other cultures, including consideration of three or more of the following: politics, economics, social movements and geography.

Constitution of the United States/State and Local Government

Students will:

1. Describe and analyze the political philosophies of the framers of the Constitution and the nature and operation of United States political institutions and processes under that Constitution as amended and interpreted.
2. Explain and examine the rights and obligations of citizens in the political system established under the Constitution.
3. Describe and examine the Constitution of the state of California within the framework of evolution of federal-state relations and the nature and processes of state and local government under that Constitution.
4. Explain and analyze contemporary relationships of state and local government with the federal government, the resolution of conflicts and the establishment of cooperative processes under the constitutions of both the state and nation, and the political processes involved.

Lifelong Learning Requirement

Lifelong Learning coursework encourages students to develop an appreciation for the importance of the continued acquisition of new and diverse knowledge and skills, and it offers opportunities to integrate personal, professional and social aspects of life.

The University requires all students to complete 3 units of Lifelong Learning coursework. This requirement can be met by the completion of CSUN Lifelong Learning designated courses or through transfer credit evaluation.

Lifelong Learning courses designated as Information Competence (IC) or Writing Intensive (WI) may also satisfy those requirements.

Lifelong Learning courses must meet at least two of the following student learning outcomes.

Student Learning Outcomes

Goal: Students will develop cognitive, physical and affective skills, which will allow them to become more integrated and well-rounded individuals within various physical, social, cultural, and technological environments and communities.

Students will:

1. Identify and actively engage in behaviors conducive to individual health, well- being or development, and understand the value of maintaining these behaviors throughout their lifespan.
2. Identify and apply strategies leading to health, well-being or development for community members of diverse populations.
3. Apply the knowledge and skills of science and technology and evaluate how they impact individuals, the community and/or society.

Lower Division Writing Skills Requirement

The University requires of all students a 3-unit lower division course in composition. Students must complete the lower division writing requirement no later than the semester in which 45 units are completed. Transfer students with more than 35 units who have not completed the lower division writing requirement must do so within the first semester of residence.

Students may meet this requirement by:

1. Completing one course from AAS 115, AFRS 115, CAS 115, CHS 115, ENGL 115 or QS 115; or an equivalent course at an accredited community or four- year college; or completing one of the following two-semester course sequences: AAS 113A/113B or 114A/114B, AFRS 113A/113B or 114A/114B, CAS 113A/113B or 114A/114B, CHS 113A/113B or 114A/114B, ENGL 113A/113B or 114A/114B, LING 113A/113B, QS 113A/113B or 114A/114B; or

2. Receiving a satisfactory score on the Advanced Placement Test in English Language and Composition or the Advanced Placement Test in English Literature and Composition.

Completion of this requirement fulfills a portion of the Basic Skills Area of the General Education Program. Note: Completion of the lower division writing requirement is a prerequisite for all upper division General Education courses.

Upper Division Writing Skills Requirement

CSUN has implemented the California State University Trustee Policy for the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) for all upper division students. Students who have completed 56 units and have met the lower division writing requirement will be required to meet the GWAR through coursework in designated Writing Intensive upper division curriculum or completion of ENGL 345 Recursive Writing.

1. Students may meet the GWAR through demonstration of writing proficiency by receiving a grade of “C” or better in 6 units of coursework in designated Writing Intensive upper division curriculum (usually two courses of Upper Division General Education) at CSUN. Note that a grade of “C-” or lower in Upper Division General Education will meet the General Education requirement but not the GWAR requirement, and articulated upper division coursework transferred from another institution does not meet this requirement.

2. Students may meet the GWAR through completion of ENGL 345 Recursive Writing with a grade of “C” or better.

Note: Certification of graduation writing competence will be transferable from one CSU campus to another. However, students must pass the GWAR at the campus at which they are matriculated.

4. Grade Point Average Requirement.
Each student will complete with a GPA of 2.0 (grade “C” on a 4-point scale) or better:

a. All units attempted, including those accepted by transfer from other institutions.

b. All upper division units required in the major.

c. All upper division units required in the minor (if student chooses to declare a minor).

d. All units attempted at CSUN.

5. Residency Requirement.
Completion of 30 units in residence at CSUN in the following distributions:

a. 24 of the 30 units must be completed in upper division.

b. 12 of the 30 units must be in the major.

c. 9 of the 30 units must be in General Education.

Note: CSUN coursework taken in non-matriculated status (i.e., in Fall, Spring or Summer through Open University or self-support Winter Intersession) is considered in residence, with a maximum of 24 special session units.

6. Total Unit Minimums and Distribution:

1. B.A. Degree: 120 units, 40 of which must be upper division units.

2. B.S. Degree: 120 units, 36-47 of which must be upper division units.

3. B.M. Degree: 120 units, 40 of which must be upper division units.

4. All Bachelor’s Degrees: At least 9 units must be upper division General Education units.

7. Formal approval by the faculty of the University.

8. Application for Graduation, Graduation Evaluation and Diploma: Undergraduate students must file an Application for Bachelor’s Degree and Diploma with Undergraduate Degree Services in the Office of the Registrar before they can be officially evaluated for graduation.

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